Bangor Beautiful and Maine Audubon are partnering to transform a cement retaining wall on Broadway in Bangor with a powerful combination of public art and native plantings. The project will feature five large-scale murals by Eastport artist Alison Ross (schematic mockup of one of the five murals above), smaller companion murals created by students from Bangor and Brewer High Schools, and the planting of native gardens. Work will begin in early September 2025 and is expected to be completed in October.
North America has lost 3 billion birds since 1970, largely due to habitat loss (Science, 2019). This project aims to inspire people to see and strengthen the connections between birds, their habitats, and the larger web of life. Each mural will depict one iconic Maine bird alongside its habitat and elements of its food web, underscoring how all living things depend on one another for survival.
The native plantings will demonstrate how everyday choices—such as planting native species—can restore critical habitat in backyards, schoolyards, and community spaces. Plants will be installed along the tiered retaining wall that wraps around to York Street, sourced through Maine Audubon’s native plant nursery at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. In addition, Bangor Beautiful will donate approximately 15 street trees to the City of Bangor for planting along Broadway in front of the mural.
The murals and gardens will be located on the retaining wall near Family Dollar, across from All Souls Congregational Church—a busy, highly visible intersection seen by more than 10,000 people every day (Maine DOT, 2023 Traffic Data). By bringing together art, ecology, and community, the project reminds us that the health of birds, plants, and people are deeply interconnected, and that restoring habitat in your own backyard is just as important as conserving wild places.
This project is a true community effort, and one way you can help is by volunteering your time.
Wed, September 3, 10:30am–4:30pm: Wall preparation (bring scrubbing tools if possible)
Sat, September 6
10 am – 2 pm: Native Plants Pop-up Sale
10:30am–4:30pm: Help prime the wall
Mon–Sat, September 8–13, 10:30am–4:30pm: Mural painting
Donate supplies: Bangor Beautiful is seeking donations and sponsors as well as paint rollers, trays, new roller tubes, and brushes (please, no paint). Supplies may be dropped off at the mural site during any of the volunteer work days listed above.
Together, through art, plants, and community action, we can help conserve and restore vital habitat, support birds, and celebrate the interconnected web of life that sustains us all.
